Reclining chair sequencing arrangement



Jan. 16, 1968 P. s. FLETCHER 3,363,942

RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Dec. 5, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

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RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Dec. 5, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

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Jan. 16, 1968 P. s. FLETCHER 3,363,942

RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Dec. 5, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. PETER -S FLE'7C//Q BY W $47 ATrmQA/EV:

Jan. 16, 1968 I P. s. FLETCHER 3,363,942

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INVENTOR. PETER, 6, FLETCHEQ Jan. 16 1968 P. s. FLETCHER 3,363,942

RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Dec. 3, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet a FIG. I3.

INVENTOR. R5 72 512 5. F15 mm /a Jan. 16, 1968 Original Filed Dec. 5, 1962 FIG. I6.

P. S. FLETCHER RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT.

10 h ets-Sheet 9 INVEN'TOR. PETER 6. FLETCHBQ 4/ BYMZLWZ/ Jan. 16, 1968 P. s. FLETCHER 3,363,942

RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Dec. 5,1962 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 19;

QTTOR NE 76 United States Patent 3,363,942 RECLINING CHAIR SEQUENCING ARRANGEMENT Peter S. Fletcher, NW. 95th St.,

Delray Beach, Fla. 33444 Continuation of application Ser. No. 242,581, Dec. 3, 1962. This application Dec. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 334,687

8 Claims. (Cl. 297-322) The present invention relates to reclining chairs of the type including body-supporting means mounted to have at least two distinct phases of chair movement, and in particular to a sequencing arrangement for a reclining chair of this type to establish the order of operation of the several phases. This is a continuation of my earlier filed co-pending application Ser. No. 242,581, now abandoned filed on Dec. 3, 1962, which in turn was a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed application, Ser. No. 838,539 filed on Sept. 8, 1959, entitled, Sequencing Arrangement for Reclining Chairs of the Multiple Movement Type, which was a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 601,885 filed on Aug. 3, 1956, and entitled, Movable Reclining Chair with Back-Rest, Seat and Leg-Rest.

Heretofore there have been two distinct types of single movement reclining chairs, those constructed with a unitary back-rest and seat mounted on the support for movement into various tilted positions, and those constructed with a movable back-rest and movable seat mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively. Chairs of the single movement type incorporating a unitary back-rest and seat are most suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a tilted back position, but in a sitting attitude with the occupants legs supported on the elevated leg-rest. Such chairs are particularly suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in an attitude appropriate for television viewing, reading, sewing and like activities. Chairs of the type incorporating a movable back-rest and movable seat are found to be more suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a complete and full relaxation position in that the angle between the seat and back-rest increases in response to the reclining movement of the chair. Such chairs are particularly suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a stretched out or fully reclined attitude.

Of recent times there have been developed improved multiple-movement reclining chairs which exhibit attributes of both types of chairs which have been heretofore sold, to wit, those suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a tilted back attitude, and those which will accommodate the chair occupant in a fully reclined or completely relaxed attitude. The multiple movement chairs may be of the type incorporating a unitary back-rest and seat wherein there are first and second movement phases, with the chair moving from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during the first movement phase and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position in the second movement phase, with no change in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest during such two movement phases; or the multiple movement chairs may be of the type incorporating a movable seat and movable back-rest wherein there are first and second movement phases, with the chair moving from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position during the first movement phase and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position in the second movement phase, with an increase in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest during the second movement phase. In both types of chairs a leg-rest is included, the leg-rest being elevated to the leg-supporting 3,363,942 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 ice position in front of and substantially at the level of the front of the seat during the first movement phase, the leg-rest being maintained substantially in this position during the second movement phase. Both of these types of chairs usually include first and second guide means which movably mount the body-supporting means on the support for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position. Such first and second guide means are subject to a great deal of variation and change on their construction, but the problem exists to establish the order or sequence of operation of such guide means to assure that the body-supporting means will be properly guided during the first and second movement phases respectively to establish the several positions for the chair. Such sequencing should be of a positive and reliable nature and preferably should be automatically operable when the chair occupant is seated and exerts the necessary actuating force upon the bodysupporting means of the chair. Further, the sequencing should be established in a manner compatible with the more generalized requirements of simplicity in construction and facility to mass production manufacture.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sequencing arrangement for a reclining chair of the type including at least two distinct phases of chair movement. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a continuous constraining means useful in reclining chairs of the multiple movement type which is effective to establish the sequence of operation for the chair automatically as the chair is operated by the chair occupant.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, a sequencing arrangement is provided for a reclining chair of the type which comprises a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, and means movably mounting the body-supporting means on the support for a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said tilted position to a reclining position. The sequencing arrangement includes a continuous constraining means operatively connected to the body-supporting means. The continuous constraining means constrains the body-supporting means during the first movement phase to move along a first prescribed path and further constrains the body-supporting means during the second movement phase to move along a second prescribed path to establish the sequence of operations of the chair.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments according to the present invention, when taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1.is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a reclining chair of the double movement type embodying a sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, with the chair shown in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding intermediate position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement shown in its corresponding end position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a further reclining chair of the double movement type embodying a further sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, with the chair shown in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding intermediate position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 5, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement shown 1n its corresponding end position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a reclining chair of the double movement type embodying a sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, with the chair shown in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding intermediate position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. 8, but on an enlarged scale and showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position, and the sequencing arrangement shown in its corresponding end position.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a still further double movement reclining chair embodying a further sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention with the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10, showing the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position and the sequencing arrangement in the corresponding in termediate position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrating the chair in its fully reclined position with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position and the sequencing arrangement shown in its corresponding end position;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged elevational view of the linkage incorporated in the chair of FIGS. 10, Hand 12.

FIGS. 11A and 12A are schematic linedrawings of the linkage incorporated in the chair of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG. 11A shows the linkage in dotted line configuration in the upright sitting position and in solid line configuration in the intermediate, tilted sitting position and illustrates the paths of motion of two points on the linkage during the first motion phase. FIG. 12A illustrates the position of the linkage in the intermediate, tilted sitting position in solid line configuration and the position of the linkage at the fully reclined position in dotted line configuration and illustrates the paths of motion of three points on the linkage during the second motion phase.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial elevational view of a positive displacement cam and associated follower roller of the type which may be incorporated in a sequencing arrangement in the chair of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, illustrating the curved path of travel of the follower;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 13 however, showing a generally rectangular follower rather than a round follower and illustrating the sharp-cornered path of travel of the follower;

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of a positive cam and cam follower which may be employed in the sequencing devices according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further reclining chair of the double movement type embodying a still further sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view similar to that of FIG. 16 illustrating the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position with the leg-rest elevated in a leg-supporting position and the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding intermediate position;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrating the chair in its fully reclined position with the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding end position;

FIG. 16a is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the sequencing arrangement utilized in the chair of FIGS. 16, 17 and 18;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a reclining chair of the double movement type embodying a still further sequencing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, with the chair shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 illustrating the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position with the leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position and the sequencing arrangement in its corresponding intermediate position; and

FIG. 21 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrating the chair in its fully reclined position with the leg-rest maintained in its elevated leg-supporting position and the body supporting unit in its fully reclined position with the sequencing arrangement at its corresponding end position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of reclining chair incorporating a sequencing arrangement demonstrating features of the present invention. The chair, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a support or frame 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by suitable cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20.

Body-supporting means including a back'rest 22 and a seat 24 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 24 is a leg-rest 26 which is mounted for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the elevated legsupporting positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As will be described the leg-rest 26 is operatively connected to the body-supporting means for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the first movement phase of the chair, with the leg-rest remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 3.

In this illustrative embodiment, a seat guiding plate or member 28 is guidingly mounted on the chair support or frame 12 by respective front and rear plate guide means 30, 32 which together guide the seat during the first movement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 along a prescribed path to the tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2. The front plate guide means 30 includes a guide rail or track 34 formed at its rearward end with a stop 36. The guide plate or member 28 has mounted thereon a roller 38 which moves along the guide track or rail 34 from the forward limit position shown in FIG. 1 to the rear limit position against the stop 36 as shown in FIG. 2. The rear plate guide means includes a fixed mounting pin 40 on the chair frame or support which is engaged within an arcuate slot 42 formed in the plate 28. As seen in FIG. 1, the mounting pin 40 is normally disposed at the lower and rearward end of the arcuate slot with the slot translating rearwardly relative to the stationary mounting pin 40 in response to chair movement to guide the rearward portion of the plate 28 rearwardly and downwardly during the first phase of the chair. The joint effect of the front and rear plate guide means 30, 32 for the first movement phase is to guide the forward portion of the plate 28 rearwardly at substantially the same level and to guide the rearward portion of the plate 28 rearwardly and downwardly. The seat 24 in turn is mounted on the guide plate 28 through respective front and rear seat guide means 44, 46 which together guide the seat 24 during the second movement phase from the tilted position illustrated in FIG. 2 along a prescribed path to the inclined position illustrated in FIG. 3. The front seat guide means 44 is in the form of a pin and slot interconnection including a pin 48 fixed to the forward portion of the seat and engaged within an arcuate slot 50 formed at the forward end of the guide plate 28. A similar pin and slot interconnection 46 including a pin 52 on the rearward portion of the seat and a slot 54 at the rearward portion of the guiding plate 28 is provided for guiding the rearward portion of the seat. During the first movement phase, the respective pins 48, 52 are seated at the lower ends of the respective slots 50, 54 and for all intents and purposes the seat 24 may be considered to be unitary or rigid with the plate 28, as may be appreciated by inspecting the relative positions of the plate 28 and the seat 24 in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, during the second movement phase the seat 24 translates upwardly and rearwardly relative to the guiding plate 28 which remains stationary during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting the relative positions of the seat 24 and the plate 28 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Although the respective front and rear plate guide means 30, 32 and seat guide means 44, 46 for the first and second movement guiding arrangement has been shown as including pins and slots and/ or cam and follower arrangements, it will be appreciated that such pins and slots and/or cams and followers may be replaced by the link equivalents.

The back-rest 22 is flexibly coupled to the seat 24 by a coupling link 56 which has a pivotal connection 58 at its forward end to the rear end of the seat 24 and a pivotal connection 60 at its rearward end to the lower end of the back-rest 22. The back-rest 22 in turn is mounted on the support 12 by a mounting link 62 which has a pivotal connection or mount 64 at its lower end on the support 12 and a pivotal connection 66 at its upper end to the back-rest 22.

In this illustrative embodiment, a sequencing arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 68, is coupled to the back-rest 22 and provides a continuous constraining means operatively connected between the body-supporting means 22, 24 and the support 12 for constraining the body-supporting means during the first movement phase to move along a first prescribed path and for constraining the body-supporting means during the second movement phase to move along a second prescribed path to establish the sequence of operations of the respective first and second guide means for the chair in the order named. The sequencing arrangement 68 includes a sequencing plate 70 formed with a double-arced slot 72 including a first slot section 74 which is effective during the first movement phase and a second slot section 76 which is effective during the second movement phase. The first and second slot sections 74, 76 extend from respective outer ends toward each other and merge at a junction 78 at their adjacent ends. Confined within the double-arced slot 72 is a pin 80 which in this illustrative embodiment is fixed to the back-rest 22. The pin or cam follower 80 moves from the outer end of the slot section 74 toward the junction 78 during the first movement phase to constrain the back-rest 22 of the hody-supporting means to move with the seat as a substantially rigid unit along a first prescribed path and seats itself at the junction 78 in the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2. This intermediate, tilted sitting position and the location of the junction 78 is established by the roller 38 coming into contact with the end stop 36 and the forward end of the slot 42 coming into contact with the pivotal mount 40. During the second movement phase the pin or cam follower 88 moves upwardly and rearwardly along the second slot section 76 toward a limit position at the Outer end thereof in the fully reclined position of the chair, as shown in FIG. 3. The pin 88 constrains the back-rest 22 of the body-supporting means during the second movement phase to move exclusively along a second prescribed path. It will be appreciated that incident to the first and second movement phase as established by the respective guide means of the chair, a point on the body-supporting means will move along a complex path which cannot be established by simple link means. Therefore, in order to positively constain the body-supporting means to achieve the desired chair movement with the proper sequencing, it is essential to be able to make a point on the body-supporting means move along the complex path (to the exclusion of all other paths) established in the first instance by the respective guide means for the first and second movement phases of the chair. Such constraining eltect could not be positively achieved by a link or a series of links, particularly when it is appreciated that there will be a sharp change in the direction of motion of the point to be constrained. This may be appreciated by reference to the illustrative embodiment where it is seen that the slot section 74 and the slot section 76 have different curvatures, with a sharp change in direction at the junction 78 which could not be duplicated by a simple link means. Thus if the chair would have any tendency to move in the first instance through the second movement phase, the sequencing arrangement 68 dictates that the first guide means must operate first for so long as the pin 80 is confined within the first slot section 74, the curvature of which is determined by the guiding action of the first movement phase linkage; and only after the pin arrives at the junction 78 and is capable of moving along the second slot section, will the second movement phase mechanism be released for operation.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 26 is mounted in a stored position beneath the forward end of the seat 24 by a rigid hanger arm 82 which has its lower end fixed to the leg-rest 26 and has a pivotal mount 84 at its upper end on the seat. Extending rearwardly from the hanger arm 82 is an actuating link 86 which has a pivotal connection 88 at its forward end to the hanger arm 82 at a point spaced from the pivotal mount 84 and has a stationary pivotal mount 9t) on the support 12 at a point rearwardly of the leg-rest 26. Accordingly, in response to the rearward movement of the pivotal mount 84- of the leg-rest on the seat 24, the leg-rest will tend to turn about the pivotal connection 88, moving from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and pushes the seat 24 and. the back-rest 22 rearwardly, the seat will start to move through the first movement phase as established by the respective front and rear plate guide means 30, 32. During such first movement phase the forward portion of the seat 24 remains substantially at the same level, while the rearward portion of the seat is lowered incident to the guiding action of the pin and slot interconnection 40, 42. In turn, the back-rest 22, which is flexibly coupled to the seat 24 for pivotal move ment via the link 56 and mounted on the support 12 via the guiding link 62, is lowered and rearwardly tilted, with the angular relationship between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 remaining substantially the same.

Although there might have been a tendency for the pins 48, 52 of the respective front and rear seat guide means 44, 46 of the second movement phase to translate upwardly along their respective slots 58, 54, this tendency is precluded by the positive constraining effect of the pin 88 which is confined to move along the slot section 74, which in the first instance is designed only to permit movement of the back-rest as if it were rigid with the seat with both moving together along the first prescribed path as defined by the first guide means. The rearward pressure exerted by the occupant of the chair on the back-rest cannot turn the back-rest because of the positive constraining effect of the slot 74, and therefore, the force transmitted to the seat through the link 56 has no lifting component and consequently no tendency to actuate the seat to move in the upward path dictated by the second movement slots 50 and 54. The pin 80 reaches the junction 78 at the time that the roller 38 reaches the end stop 36 and the forward end of the slot 42 reaches the pivotal mount 40 to establish the end of the first movement phase for the chair. At this point in the chair operation, the guiding plate 28 becomes, for all intents and purposes, a part of the support. Continued pressure by the chair occupant against the backrest will cause the pin or roller 88 to begin to move upwardly along the slot 76, with the seat being guided upwardly and rearwardly relative to the stationary guide plate 28 by the respective front and rear guide means 44, 46 of the second movement guiding arrangement. During such second movement phase the seat is somewhat elevated relative to the support, but remains more or less in the same inclined attitude, while the back-rest 22 is turned rearwardly relative to the seat to open up the angle between the seat and back-rest to thereby establish the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3. During such second movement phase, the leg-rest Z6 continues to turn about the pivotal connection 88 of the contraining link 86, with the link 86 in turn turning about its pivotal mount 90 such that the leg-rest is at substantially the same level as the forward end of the seat in the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright or sitting position, the occupant pulls himself forwardly in the chair which causes the body-supporting means to move through the reverse sequence of operations, arriving first at the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 and finally being restored to the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of a reclining chair including a further sequencing arrangement demonstrating features of the present invention. The chair, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 118, includes a support or frame 112. having opposite side walls 114, 116 interconnected by appropriate cross braces 118 and supported on depending legs 128.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 122 and a seat 124 are mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 124 is a leg-rest 126 which is mounted for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the elevated legsupporting positions illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As will be described the leg-rest 126 is coordinated to the bodysupporting means for movement into the elevated legsupporting position in response to the first movement phase of the chair, with the leg-rest remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6.

In this illustrative embodiment a carrier member 128 is pivotally mounted at its rearward end on the chair frame or support 112 at a carrier pivotal mount 130. The carrier member or plate 128 serves as a stationary support for the seat guide means for the first movement phase and serves as one movable link of the second movement phase linkage, as will now be described. Specifically, the seat 124 is mounted on the carrier member 128 by respective front and rear seat guide means 132, 134 which are effective together to guide the rear of the seat 124 rearwardly and downwardly during the first movement phase. Specifically, the front seat guide means 132 includes a pin or follower 138 carried on the forward portion of the seat 124 and confined within an arcuate slot or cam 148 formed in the plate 128. The rear seat guide means 134 includes a further pin or follower 142 fixed to the rearward portion of the seat 124 and confined within an arcuate slot or cam 144 formed in the plate 128. In the upright sitting position of the chair the respective pins 138, 142 are seated at the upper and forward ends of the slots or guideways 140, 144. The joint effect of the front and rear guide means 132, 134 of the first movement phase is to guide the forward portion of the seat rearwardly substantially at the same level and to lower the rearward portion of the seat such that the seat arrives at the inclined position illustrated in FIG. 5. At the end of the first movement phase, the respective pins 138, 142 are seated at the lower and rearward end of the slots or guideways 140, 144 such that the seat 124 becomes a unitary assembly with the carrier member or plate 128 during the second movement phase.

The linkage for the second movement phase of the chair includes a link pair 146, 148 pivotally connected between the support 112 and the forward portion of the carrier member or plate 128. Specifically, the link 146 has a pivotal mount 150 at its forward end to the support 112 and a pivotal connection 152 intermediate its ends to the lower end of the link 148. The link 148 has a pivotal connection 154 at its upper end to the carrier member or plate 128. The linkage for the second movement phase further includes a link 156 which is disposed adjacent the rearward end of the carrier member or plate 128 and has a pivotal mount 158 at its upper end on the carrier member. The link 156 is coupled via a connecting link 160 to the link 146 of the link pair 146, 148. Specifically, the connecting link 168 has a pivotal connection 162 at its rearward end to the link 156 and a pivotal connection 164 at its forward end to the rearward and upper end of the link 146 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pivotal mount 150. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the link 146 of the second movement linkage rests against the adjacent cross brace 118 serving as a stop to establish the carrier plate or member 128 in its initial position in relation to the support during the first movement phase. During the second movement phase, and in response to clockwise turning of the link 156 about its pivotal mount 158 on the carrier member 128, the guide means or linkage for the second movement phase will be actuated with the link 146 turning in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount 158. The second movement linkage includes as movable links thereof the link 146, the link 148, the carrier member or plate 128 intermediate the pivotal connection 154 and the pivotal mount 130, the link 156 and the link 168, with the support intermediate the pivotal mounts 130, 150 serving as the stationary link thereof.

In this illustrative embodiment the sequencing arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 170, includes a continuous constraining means operatively connected between the carrier plate or member 128 and the back-rest 122. Specifically, the sequencing arrangement or constraining means includes a doublearced slot 172 formed in the rearward portion of the carrier member or plate 128 having a first slot section 174 which is effective during the first movement phase and a second slot section 176 which is effective during the second movement phase. The first and second slot sections 174, 176 extend from their respective outer ends towards each other and merge at a junction 178 at their adjacent ends. Confined within the double-arc slot 172 is a pin 180 which is fixed to the back-rest 122 and moves from the outer end of the slot section 174 toward the junction 178 during the first movement phase to constrain the back-rest 122 of the body-supporting means to move along a first prescribed path, seating itself at the junction 178 in the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5. During the second movement phase the pin or cam follower 180 moves downwardly and forwardly along the second slot section 176, and constrains the backrest 122 of the body-supporting means to move along a second prescribed path seating itself at a limit position at the outer end thereof in the fully reclined position of the chair as shown in FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 5, the pin or cam follower 180 contacts the link 156 in the intermediate position due to the arrangement of the double-arc slot 172 and the link 156. Thus during the second movement phase, the pin or cam follower 180 provides an operative or driving connection from the backrest 122 to the link 156 of the second movement linkage.

In this illustrative embodiment the leg-rest is mounted in a stored position beneath the forward end of the seat 124 by a multiple link pair lazy tong type of arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 182, which includes a pair of pivotal connections 184, 186 to the leg-rest and a pair of pivotal connections 188, 190 to the forward portion of the carrier member or plate 128. The leg-rest mounting linkage, which will not be described in detail in that it merely is illustrative of the many and varied types of leg-rest mounting linkages which may be employed in this illustrative embodiment, includes a link 192 having upward projection 192a which is turned in the clockwise direction about the pivotal connection or mount 188 during the first movement phase to extend the leg-rest 126. Specifically, an actuating link 194 is disposed between the extension 192a and the pin 138 and has a pivotal connection 196 at its upper end to the extension 192a and a pivotal connection at its lower end to the seat coaxially with the pin 138. Accordingly, in response to the rearward movement of the seat and of the pivotal connection 138 during the first movement phase, the actuating link 194 turns the link extension 19211 in a direction appropriate to extend the leg-rest 126, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5. During the second movement phase the leg-rest 126 remains in a substantially fixed relation to the seat 124, with the seat 124 being displaced relative to the support incident to the guiding action of the second movement linkage wherein the carrier member 128 is one movable link thereof.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to a typical sequence of operation:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and pushes rearwardly, the seat 124 will move rearwardly relative to the carrier member 128 being guided by the respective front and rear guide means 132, 134. During the first movement phase, the forward portion of the seat 124 remains substantially at the same level while the rearward portion of the seat is lowered incident to the guiding action of the pin and slot interconnection 142, 144 of the rear seat guide means 134. In turn, the backrest 122 which is pivotally mounted on the seat 124 and is guided by the pin 180 moving in the slot section 174 is is lowered and rearwardly tilted, with the angular relation:- ship between the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 remaining substantially the same. Although there might have been a tendency for the second movement phase linkage to operate also incident to the pressure by the chair occupant, this tendency is precluded by the positive constraining effect of the sequencing arrangement 17!? which in the first instant is designed only to permit movement of the back-rest 122 and the body-supporting means as a whole along the first prescribed path to arrive at the intermeditae, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 5. The respective pins 138, 142 arrive at the lower and rearward limits of the slots 140, 144 when the pin or cam follower 180 arrives at the junction 178 in contact with the backrest link 156 at the end of the first movement phase of the chair.

Continued pressure by the chair occupant against the back-rest 122 will cause the pin or roller 18!) to begin to slide along the slot 176 which turns the back-rest link 156 in a clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 158 to actuate the second movement linkage. During the second movement phase, the link 146 turns in the counterclockwise direction about the pivotal mount and the carrier member or plate 128 turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivotal mount 130. During such second movement phase, the seat is somewhat elevated relative to the support :by the second movement phase linkage, while the back-rest 122 turns rearwardly relative to the seat 124 about the back-rest pivot 168 to open up the angle between the seat and back-rest to thereby establish the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings, there is shown a still further embodiment of reclining chair including a still further sequencing arrangement demonstrating features of the present invention. The chair, which is generally designated 'by the reference numeral 21%, includes a support or frame 212 having opposite side walls 214, 216 interconnected by appropriate cross braces 218 and supported on depending legs 2219. Body-supporting means including a back-rest 222 and a seat 224 are mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively for the first and second movement phases. Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 224 is a leg-rest 226 which is mounted for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the several elevated leg-supporting positions illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 during the first and second movement phases. In this illustrative embodiment, the mounting member or plate 228 is rigidly secured to the adjacent side frame of the support 212. In this illustrative embodiment, the sequencing arrangement which is generally designated by the reference numeral 230 provides a continuous constraining means operatively connected between the mounting member 228 rigid with the support 212 and the rearward portion of the seat 224. Specifically, the sequencing arrangement or constraining means includes a double arc slot 232 formed in the mounting member or plate 228 which has a first slot section 234 which is effective during the first movement phase and a second slot section 236 which is effective during the second movement phase. The first and second slot sections 234, 236 extend from their respective outer ends toward each other and merge at a junction 238 at their adjacent ends. Confined within the double arc slot 232 is a pin 240 which is fixed to the rearward portion of the seat by an appropriate L-shaped bracket 242. The pin 240 of the sequencing arrangement 230 slides from the outer end of the slot section 234 toward the junction 238 in a first movement phase to constrain the seat 224 of the body-supporting means to move along a first prescribed path, seating itself at the junction 238 in the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 8. During the second movement phase the pin or cam follower 240 moves upwardly and rearwardly along the second slot section 236 and constrains the seat 224 of the body-supporting means to move along the second prescribed path, seating itself at a limit position of the chair shown in FIG. 9.

The front of the seat 224 is guided by a front guiding linkage generally designated by the reference numeral 244 of the type disclosed and described in copending application Ser. No. 832,976 filed Aug. ll, 1959 and entitled Reclining Chair Including Improved Seat Control, which is arranged to guide the seat 224 relative to the support into various inclined positions and to move the leg-rest 226 upwardly and outwardly in response to movement of the seat relative to the support. The front guiding linkage or control arrangement includes a first or rear guiding link 246 having a first pivotal connection 243 to the seat, a second or front guiding link 2519 having a second pivotal connection 252 to the seat spaced forwardly of the first pivotal connection 248, and a third or connecting link 2554 having respective pivotal connections 256, 258 to the first and second links 246, 250 at points spaced from the first and second pivotal connections 248, 252. The link 246, the link 254 intermediate the pivotal connections 256, 258, the link 250 intermediate the pivotal connections 258, 252 and the portion of the seat 224 intermediate the pivotal connections 252, 248 constitute a four-bar control linkage for the seat, with the link 254 opposite the seat having a pivotal mount which remains stationary during the first movement phase. In this illustrative embodiment, the link 254 includes rearwardly projecting integral locking plate 269 which has a pivotal mount 262 on a guiding link 264 of the second movement linkage which guiding link in turn ha a pivotal mount 266 on the mounting plate 228. As disclosed in said copending application, the seat-control linkage thus described is exceptionally versatile and by adjustment of the location of the pivotal mount 262 enables variation in the pitch of the seat independent of the elevation of the leg-rest by the leg-rest mounting and control arrangement which will be subsequently described.

The back-rest 222 is pivotally mounted on the seat 224 at a back-rest pivot 268, with the guiding arrangement for the back-rest being completed by a mounting link 270 which has a pivotal mount 274 at its lower end on the mounting plate 228 at a point spaced behind the pivotal mount 266'and a pivotal connection 276 at its upper end to the back-rest 222 at a point spaced behind the backrest pivot 268.

During the first movement phase the body-supporting means is guided relative to the support in the front by the seat control linkage 244 and in the rear by the mounting link 270. The pin 24!} and slot 234 of the sequencing arrangement 2.30 holds the seat in rigid relationship to the back-rest during the first movement phase. The end of the first movement phase is established, in this illustrative embodiment, by a stop 278 on the leg-rest 226 which abuts one of the links of the leg-rest mounting arrangement, as seen in FIG. 8.

Further provision is made for establishing the sequencing of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, the locking plate or extension 269 is formed with a notch 280 which engages a locking pin 282 fixed to the forward end of the plate 228. During the first movement phase, the connecting link 254 turns in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 262 such that the locking notch 280 swings out of its engaged position with the locking pin 232, thereby releasing the second movement guiding link 264 for movement, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 7 and 8.

During the second movement phase, the slot section 236 serves as a constraining means and positively holds the link 270 of the first movement linkage against movement such that the pivotal connection 276 of the link 270 to the back-rest 222 effectively serves as a stationary pivotal mount during the second movement phase. Accordingly, the second movement linkage comprises a stationary link provided intermediate the pivotal mount 266 and the pivotal connection 276 and movable links including the link 264, a further link intermediate the pivotal connection 262 and the back-rest pivot 268 and a still further link intermediate the back-rest pivot 268 and the pivotal connection 276.

In this illustrative embodiment the leg-rest 226 is mounted for movement from the stored position beneath the forward end of the seat 224 by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 284, which includes three link pairs. The links 246, 254 of the seat control linkage 244 serve as the first and second links of a first link pair, and link 25% of the seat control linkage serves as a first link of a second link pair. The second link pair further includes the link 2% which has a pivotal connection 288 at its rearward end to the link 250 and a pivotal connection 290 at its forward and to the leg-rest 226. The third link pair includes the link 292 which has a pivotal connection 294 at its upper end to the forward end of the link 254, a pivotal connection 2% intermediate its ends to the link 286 of the second link pair and a pivotal connection 296 at its lower end to the second link thereof 3%, which in turn has a pivotal connection 302 at its forward end to the leg-rest 226.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to a typical sequence of operation:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and pushe rearwardly, the body-supporting means will move rearwardly relative to the support 212, being constrained at its rearward portion by the mounting link 27th and at its forward portion by the front seat control linkage 244. It will be appreciated that there is a slight turning movement of the locking plate 266 during the first movement phase such as to achieve the release of the locking notch 280 from the locking pin 282. The rearward movement of the pivotal connections 248, 252 incident to the rearward displacement of the seat 224 is effective to move the leg-rest 226 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position. When the pin 24% of the sequencing arrangement arrives at the junction 238 of the slot sections 234, 236, and the link 300 abuts the stop 278, the end of the first movement phase is effectively established, with the second movement linkage unblocked.

When the chair occupant exerts further pressure on the back-rest 222, the pin 240 begins to move upwardly and rearwardly along the slot section 235 and simultaneously the link 264 begins to turn in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 266 to achieve the requisite movement for the seat and back-rest for the second movement phase, with the angle between the back-rest 222 and the seat 224 opening up to establish the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 9.

In this embodiment it will be noted that although the slot section 234 can be considered as having a guiding action for the seat, it serves the same function as a lock between the seat and back-rest to hold them in rigid relationship during the first movement. Likewise, although the slot section 236 can be considered to have a guiding action on the seat during the second movement phase, in reality it acts as a positive lock to hold the link 27% rigid with the sup-port in order to have the pivot 276 provide, to the exclusion of all other possibilities, a stationary pivot for the backrest during the second movement phase.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, there is shown another embodiment of reclining chair including another sequencing arrangement demonstrating features of the present invention. This chair is generally the same as the chair shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the difference being in the sequencing arrangement. The chair of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 can be characterized as having a link equivalent of the double-arc slot sequencing means of the chair of FIGS. 7 through 9 to produce a path of motion which, from a practical standpoint, is identical to the path of motion in the chair of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

In most cases, the desired constraining effect of the present sequencing arrangement may be achieved in practice by using a four bar linkage. Although such four bar linkages do not offer the simplicity, precision and flexibility of the follower and positive displacement cam, they do afford comparatively easy manufacture and the elimination of the sliding between pin and cam surface which dictates more careful and in some instances more costly manufacture.

Inasmuch as the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 in most of its parts, like parts of the latter embodiment are given the same identifying numbers but of the 300 series rather than of the 200 series. Specific recitation of like parts will not be made. In this illustrative embodiment the sequencing arrangement, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 339, provides a continuous constraining means operatively connected between the support 312 and the rear portion of the seat 324. Specifically, the sequencing arrangement or constraining means includes a four bar linkage 332 mounted on the support which functions as the stationary link of the four bar linkage 332, the connecting or floating link 339 of the four bar linkage having a pivotal connection 340' to the seat. The pivotal connection 340 follows a double-arc path which for all intents and purposes is identical to the path followed by the pin 240 under the guiding action of the double-arc slot 232 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The first path segment is effective during the first movement phase, the second path being effective during the second movement phase. See FIGS. 11A and 12A.

The four bar linkage of the sequencing means consists of first and second support links 337, 335 pivoted to the support at 345 and 341 respectively. The connecting link 339 is pivoted to the first and second support links 337 and 335 at spaced points 347 and 343 respectively. The arrangement of this four bar linkage is such that the two supporting links form an approximate right angle with each other in the upright sitting position in FIG. 10. As the chair moves from the upright sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position, the second supporting link 335 rotates to a position more or less parallel with the first support link 337, as may be seen by inspecting FIGS. 10 and 11 and FIGS. 11A and 12A. The connecting link 339 is guided thereby in a rotary motion to produce an arcuate path along which the pivot 340 on the seat is constrained to move. Simultaneously, with the engagement of the link 400- with the stop 378 and the resulted blocking of the leg-rest linkage in the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 11, the four bar linkage 332 changes the direction of travel of the pivot 340 on the seat. Thereafter, the first and second support links 337 and 335 move more or less parallel with each other to translate the connecting link 339 upwardly so that the pivot 340 moves in such a manner that the rear guide link 370 is held substantially immovable relative to the sup port so that the back-rest rotates around the pivot 376 as if it were a fixed pivot on the support. A stop 349 may be provided to engage the first support link 337 to establish the fully reclined position.

The embodiment of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 operates in identical fashion to that shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the sequencing linkage 330 replacing the cam and follower sequencing arrangement 230 shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and the linkage arrangement may be considered the full equivalent of the cam and follower arrangement. Whatever differences that may occur between the two chairs are slight, and for all practical purposes and for the purpose of the invention herein, the two may be considered the same thing. As pointed out previously, the double-arc cam cannot be replaced by a simple linkage i.e., one, two, or three links interconnected in some general arrangement with a relatively wide latitude in the design of the links and pivots, but on the contrary, in this case the constraining sequence means is a very special and precise arrange ment of a four bar linkage whose design parameters are limited in the first instance by the motion determined by the guiding means. Furthermore, the substitution of a four bar linkage of the general type illustrated may not necessarily lead in practice to the desired constrained n1otion. This is because the motion possible with the four bar linkage deviates too far from the ideal or perfect motion necessary in the particular chair in question. In such cases, a cam and follower, or a more complicated linkage, would have to be substituted. It has been found that cam and follower arrangements present technical problems involving easy and at the same time economical manufacture. The advantages of flexibility and simplicity found in cam and follower arrangements usually make them more desirable for use in the instant invention than the corresponding linkages more complicated than the four bar linkage. These problems, discussed in more detail below, are more in the nature of engineering and design problems and do not relate to the inventive concept herein, which is the positive constraint of the typically unconstrained multiple movement chair linkage thereby insuring positive sequencing of the movements.

It should be noted that the positive displacement cams and equivalent four bar linkage generally have very similar characteristics in their guiding action during the switch from one phase to the other. In particular, except in special cases dealt with below, they each produce a rounded corner at the intermediate, tilted sitting position in the constrained path that they produce. For example, note the path of point 340 on the chair 310 as illustrated in the schematical views of FIGS. 11A and 12A which is essentially the same as the path of the follower in FIG. 13.

It should be noted that the typical guiding mechanism used in multiple movement chairs having two or more degrees of freedom will produce a sharp corner at the intermediate, tilted sitting position for the path that any point on the body-supporting means will trace. Thus, in the case where the positive constraining sequence means has a guiding function as well, there is: usually a slight deviation from the ideal path desired. The action of a pin guided by a positive displacement cam is well known. In FIG. 13, which is an enlarged partial view of the sequencing means of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, it is shown that the pin rolls" around the inside corner of the cam to produce a rounded transition from one motion phase to the other. It should be noted that if a four sided slider is used as shown in FIG. 14 instead of a round pin or round roller as shown in FIG. 13, the path traced has a sharp corner. In this case, inasmuch as there is sliding between the two surfaces, the two surfaces must be designed so that they slide easily without any noise produced in the chair and so that they do not wear out which is generally the problem with using economical sliding joints in reclining chairs. In such a case, the cam may be stamped and formed with flanges to produce sufficient bearing surface and a suitable plastic slider used, the slider being mounted on a pin so its surfaces will align themselves with the sides of the cam. Such a design is illustrated in FIG. 15.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 16, 16a, 17, 18, there is shown a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 410, which includes a support or frame 412 having side walls or frames 414, 416 interconnected by suitable cross braces 418 and supported on depending legs 420.

A body-supporting unit including a back-rest 422 and a seat 424 rigid therewith is mounted on the support 412 for a first movement phase from the sitting position shown in FIG. 16 to an intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 17 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate position to a reclining position shown in FIG. 18.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 424 is a leg-rest 426 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, shown in FIG. 16, to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to the seat as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.. As will be described, the leg-rest 426 is coordinated to the movement of the body-supporting unit such that in response to the first movement phase of the chair, the leg-rest moves to the elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 17, with the leg-rest remaining substantially in a fixed elevated position relative to the body-supporting unit during the second movement phase.

In this illustrative embodiment an elongated carrier member or link 464 extending from front to rear of the chair is mounted at its rear end on the support at a carrier pivot 466. A stationary position is established for the carrier member 464 during the first movement phase by the cross brace 418. The brace 418 precludes the counterclockwise turning movement of the carrier member 464 about the carrier pivot 466, but permits the clockwise turning movement thereof during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 17 and 18. Extending upwardly from the forward end of the carrier member or link 464 is a front guiding link 446 which has a front pivotal mount 456 on the carrier link 464 and a front pivotal connection 448 to the seat 424 of the body-supporting unit. Extending upwardly from an intermediate point of the carrier member 464 is a rear guiding link 470 which is pivotally mounted on the carrier member 464 at a rear pivotal mount 474 and is pivotally connected to the body-supporting unit at a rear pivotal connection 476. The front guiding link 446, the portion of the seat 424 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 448, 476, and the rear guiding link 4'70 serve as movable links of the first motion phase linkage, with the portion of the carrier member 464 intermediate the front and rear pivotal mounts 456, 474 serving as a stationary link thereof.

The first motion phase linkage is operative to guide the body-supporting unit for rearward tilted movement relative to the support, and during the first movement phase the front guiding link 446 swings through an upward and rearward are from its forwardly inclined position to a position slightly to the rear of dead center, while the rear guiding link 470 swings through a rearward arc to a position to the rear of dead center, with the links 446, 478 being effective to impart the requisite tilting to the body-supporting unit to establish the desired intermediate position appropriate for television viewing and the like.

The leg-rest 426 is mounted for movement from the stored position to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position by a leg-rest mounting linkage which includes a first pair of links 492, 486 having a pivotal connection 496 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of links 450, 500 having a pivotal connection 488 at their adjacent ends. The link 492 of the first link pair has a pivotal connection 494 to the forward end of the seat 424, while the link 486 has a pivotal connection 490 to the leg-rest 426 adjacent the upper end thereof. The link 450 of the second link pair has a pivotal connection 458 to the seat 424 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection 494, while the link 560 of the second link pair has a pivotal connection 502 to the leg-rest 426 at a point spaced below the pivotal connection 490. The first and second link pair 492, 486 and 450, 500 are coordinated by the provision of an integral extension of the link 492 which has a' coordinating pivotal connection 498 to the link 500.

A leg-rest actuating link 454 has a pivotal mount 462 on the carrier member 464 and a pivotal connection 452 to the link 450 at a point spaced below the pivotal connection 458 on the seat. Thus, in response to the rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit during the first movement phase, the portion of the link 450 intermediate the pivotal connections 452, 458 turns in the clockwise direction about the pivotal connection 452, with a corresponding upward and forward swinging movement of the leg-rest mounting linkage which is effective to extend and elevate the leg-rest 426.

Provision is made for blocking either the first movement guide linkage or the leg-rest mounting linkage at the end of the first movement phase such that the bodysupporting unit and the leg-rest 426 move together about the carrier pivot 466 incident to the turning movement of the carrier member about the carrier pivot 466 during the second movement phase. In this illustrative embodiment the stop 478 is fixed to the link 450 which stop serves two functions. First, the stop 478 establishes the stored or retracted position for the leg-rest in that it abuts the link 580 at a location forwardly of the pivotal connection 498 and precludes further collapsing movement of the leg-rest mounting linkage; and second, in the extended and elevated position of the leg-rest shown in FIG. 17, the stop 478 abuts the link 568 at a location rearwardly of the pivotal connection 498 (due to the relative movement of the links of the leg-rest mounting linkage) to effectively block the leg-rest mounting linkage. Through the constraining link, the first movement linkage built onto the carrier member 464 is also blocked such that the leg-rest remains in a fixed position relative to the bodysupporting unit which in turn remains in a relatively fixed position to the carrier member 464.

Referring to FIG. 16a, a constraining seqeuncing arrangement 438 is operatively interconnected between the body-supporting means and the support 412 to constrain the body-supporting unit to move along a first path during the first movement phase and to constrain the body-supporting unit to move along a second path during the second movement phase. This establishes the sequence of operations for the chain to assure that the four bar linkage built onto the carrier member 464 will first be operative to move the body-supporting unit to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 17, with the carrier member 464 thereafter turning about the carrier pivot 466 to establish the reclining position shown in FIG. 18. The sequencin arrangement is provided by an integral downward extension 470a of the rear guiding link 470 which is formed with a two-directional slot 432 which guidingly engages a pin 440 fixed to the support. The slot 432 includes first and second slot sections 434, 436 extending from respective outer ends towards each other and merging at a junction 438 at their adjacent ends. The pin 440 is disposed at the outer end of the first slot section in the upright sitting position as shown in FIG. 16, moved to the junction 438 in the intermediate, tilted sitting position as shown in FIG. 17, and is at the outer end of the second slot section 436 in the fully reclined position of FIG. 18.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to a typical sequence of operation.

The chain occupant is initially seated in the chair in the upright sitting position of FIG. 16 and, upon exertion of a rearward pressure, the body-supporting unit will be moved rearwardly in relation to the support 412 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 17. The rearward movement of the pivotal connection 458 of the link 456 of the leg-rest mounting linkage on the bodysupporting unit will cause the turning movement of the link 450 about the pivotal connection 452, with a corresponding movement of the legrest 426 to the elevated legsupporting position shown in FIG. 17. The stop 478 is arranged to block further movement of the leg-rest 426 beyond the elevated leg-supporting position and at the same time the pin 448 of the pin and slot interconnection of the sequencing means is at the junction 438 of the slot sections 434, 436. When the chair occupant desires to bring the chair to the reclining position of FIG. 18, further rearward pressure is exerted on the body-supporting unit, as by placing the hands on the arms of the chair frame and pushing rearwardly, whereupon the carrier member 462 will turn in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 466 which brings the body-supporting unit and the leg-rest 426 to the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 18. This position is established when the lower portion of the body-supporting unit contacts the rear cross brace 418 serving as a stop. When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to either the intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 17 or the upright sitting position of FIG. 16, forward pressure is exerted by the occupant by pulling on the arms of the chair which brings about the reverse sequence of operations.

If the sequencing arrangement is called on to perform only sequencing then the positive displacement cam can be made with sufiicient clearance at the junction of the two slot sections so that it does not interfere with the action of the guiding means for the body-supporting means at the intermediate, tilted sitting position. This is shown in FIG. 16A by the sharp cornered path (dotted line) of the relative motion of the pin 440 within the slot 432 at the junction 438 with the pin and slot 432, 440 functioning solely as a sequencing means.

Furthermore, where the sequencing arrangement is not called on to guide as the body-supporting means in any way, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 16, 17, 18, its design can be such that there is normally no excessive physical contact to cause wear or noise in the cam and/ or the follower. The sequencing arrangement is then a preventative against the wrong sequence of operation and serves in a passive capacity. Such design may be achieved by providing sufficient clearance so that the pin and slot do not normally touch each other except in the upright sitting and fully reclining positions.

In FIGS. 19, 20, and 21, still another embodiment of reclining chair is shown. This chair 510 is of the unitary back-rest and seat type of the preceding embodiment. That is, the seat 524 and the back-rest 522 are formed rigidly with each other, the angle therebetween remaining fixed all the time. The chair of this embodiment employs a sequencing arrangement 530 which uses a four bar linkage 532 similar to that shown in the chair of FIGS. 10, 11, and 12. Although this four bar linkage arrangement is used in a chair having a rigid seat and back and although it mounts the seat intermediate the front and rear portions thereof, it functions in almost identical fashion to that shown in the chair of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. Specifically, the first and second support links 537, and 535 are pivotally mounted on the support at 545 and 541 respectively, the support 512 thereby functioning as the stationary link of the four bar linkage 532. A connecting or floating link 539 is pivotally connected to links 537 and 535 at spaced points 547, 543 respectively. The connecting or floating link 539 is pivotally connected at its upper end at 540 to the seat. This sequencing arrangement provides the constrained two directional path for the pivot 540 which is necessary to positively insure the proper sequence of operation of the multiple position chair shown herein.

In this embodiment there is also included a rear guide link 570 pivotally connected to the support at its lower end at 574 and pivotally connected at its upper end to the seat and 576. Further, the chair includes a leg-rest 526 supported on the seat by a double four bar lazy tong type of linkage. Specifically, the leg-rest is mounted on a bracket 582 which carries two links 586 and 600 at pivotal connections 590 and 602 respectively. Links 586 and 600 are supported by and pivotally connected to links 592 and 550. Link 592 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the seat 524 at 594. The lower end of link 586 is pivotally connected at 588 to link 550 which is integral with or rigid with the connecting or floating link 539 of the four bar linkage 532. By virtue of the identity or rigid relationship of links 550 and 539, the lazy tong link-age may be considered to be completed by the pivotal connection 540 on the seat.

In this embodiment, it will be noted that although the positive sequencing arrangement 530 can be considered to have both a primary guiding function and also a legrest control function, it retains its positive sequencing action and serves to constrain the rigid seat and back-rest to move along one path of movement in the first phase of operation of the chair to the exclusion of all other paths and then to move along a second path of movement in the second phase of operation to the exclusion of all other paths including the first path. This embodiment demonstrates therefore that while the positive sequencing arrangement of the instant invention may assume additional functions in the chair it always provides positive constraint and therefore positive sequence of operation as far as the two phases of motion are concerned.

In the case of the leg-rest linkage, it should be noted that the integral relationship of links 550 and 539 is possible because of the similarity between the movement of the seat links in a lazy tong linkage in a multiple movement chair and the connecting or floating link in the four bar sequencing linkage shown in the chairs of FIGS. 10 through 12 and 19 through 21. It can be noted, for example, in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 that the leg-rest link 350 which is part of the leg-rest linkage and is pivoted to the seat rotates clockwise in the first movement of the chair to fulfill its function in the leg-rest linkage of extending the leg-rest. Thereafter, the link 35% is carried by the seat and translates upwardly relative to the support. As described in connection with this embodiment of FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the link 339 moves generally in the same manner. That is, it rotates clockwise in the first phase of movement until the supporting link 335 has become approximately parallel with the first supporting link 337 and then in the second phase of movement the link 339 translates upwardly. Therefore, it would be possible as shown in the chair of FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 to make the leg-rest link and the floating link integral with each other thus effecting a saving in parts. It is important to note that since the functions are combined a certain amount of compromise may be involved in the design of an actual chair. However, whatever the deviation from the ideal movements desired, the positive constraint and positive sequencing action is nevertheless present. Again, it should be noted that the sequencing function of the positive constraining means of the instant invention is not negatived by the positive costraining means assuming other functions even to the extent that the assumption of these other functions may produce compromise results as far as ideal operation of the chair is concerned.

It should also be noted that, Where there is combining of functions and consequent identity of normally independent parts, constraining linkages more complicated than the four bar linkage may be advantageously used thereby obtaining a resulting saving of parts as demonstrated, for example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 19, 20, and 21.

An examination of the illustrated embodiments shows that the positive sequencing means of the instant invention may be used in two ways. It may be used purely as a sequencing means, or it may be used as a sequencing means and also act as a guiding means. Further, its guiding function maybe of a primary nature or of a secondary nature. That is, the positive constraining action on the body-supporting means may be essential to the working of the chair, the constraining means actually producing the guided paths of movement as well as limiting the motion exclusively to those paths of movement; or the sequencing means may act in only a supporting role, the guiding motion it produces being determined in the first instance by the action of other guiding elements on the body-supporting means. Thus, in FIGS. 19, 20, 21, the sequencing mechanism has a primary guiding function in addition to its sequencing function inasmuch as it is essential in determining the motion of the seat and backrest unit because no motion could be determined without considering the action of that mechanism. In FIGS. 10, 11, 12, on the other hand, the sequencing mechanism could be eliminated and the motion of the seat and back could still be determined, it being remembered that in the first movement the link 364 remains stationary and the seat and back move rigidly together, and that in the second movement the front guide means is blocked relative to the seat by the stop 378 and the rear guide link 370 is effectively stopped relative to the support. Therefore, while it is obvious that pivot 340 traces a certain path and in consequence produces a guiding action along this path, the effect produced by this guiding action of the sequence means could be achieved by using two stops, one between the seat and back-rest to keep the angle therebetWeen from decreasing in the first movement phase and one to stop the rear guide link at the intermediate position so that it remained stationary during the second movement phase. In such a case, of course, the stops do not constrain the body-supporting means, the sequencing action of the constraining mechanism 330 is lost, and other motions may be imparted to the chair besides the one desired.

In the above connection it should be noted that While the stops prevent the slightest movement, the constraining means may impart a slight movement to improve the comfort or balance or other characteristics of the chair. For example, the second slot section 236 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 is more or less straight so that although line 270 remains substantially stationary during the second movement phase there is some slight movement. In this case this slight movement alters the relative positions of the seat and back-rest with a consequent alteration in balance. Thus it can be seen that the instant invention may aid in producing a chair with good characteristics.

From the foregoing illustrative embodiments it will be appreciated that there is provided in accordance with the present intention, a positive contraining means useful in reclining chairs of the multiple movement type to establish a sequence of operations for the chair automatically as the chair is moved into the several positions by the chair occupant.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention Will be employed Without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position, and continuous constraining means connected to said body-supporting means for constraining said body-supporting means to move along a first path during said first movement phase and for constraining said body-supporting means to move along a second path during said second movement phase for establishing the sequence of operation of said chair, said continuous constraining means including a doublearced slot and a pin engaged in said slot.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position and including a first guide means for said body-supporting means operable to guide said bodysupporting means during said first movement phase from said sitting position along a first prescribed path to said intermediate, tilted sitting position and second guiding means for said body-supporting means operable to guide said body-supporting means from said intermediate, tilted sitting position along a second prescribed path to said reclining position, and cam and follower means operatively connected to said body-supporting means for constraining said body-supporting means during said first movement phase to move along said first prescribed path and for constraining said body-supporting means during said second movement phase to move along said prescribed path for establishing the sequence of operation of said first and second guide means in the order named.

3. A sequencing arrangement for use in a reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means in-- cluding a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position and including a first guide means for said body-supporting means operable to guide said body-supporting means during said first movement phase from said sitting position along a first prescribed path to said intermediate, tilted sitting position and second guiding means for said body-supporting means operable to guide said body-supporting means from said intermediate, tilted sitting position along a second prescribed path to said reclining position, said sequencing arrangement including a pin and slot interconnection operatively connected to said body-supporting means and having a first slot section for constraining said body-supporting means during said first movement phase to move along said first prescribed path and having a second slot section for constraining said body-supporting means during said second movement phase to move along said second prescribed path for establishing the sequence of operation of said first and second guide means in the ordered named.

4. A sequencing arrangement for use in a reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position and including a first guide means for said body-supporting means operable to guide said body-supporting means during said first movement phase from said sitting position along a first prescribed path to said intermediate, tilted sitting position and second guiding means for said bodysupporting means operable to guide said body-supporting means from said intermediate, tilted sitting position along a second prescribed path to said reclining position, said sequencing arrangement including a pin and slot interconnection operatively connected to said body-supporting means and having a first slot section for constraining said body-supporting means during said first movement phase to move along said first prescribed path and having a second slot section for constraining said body-supporting means during said second movement phase to move along said second prescribed path for establishing the sequence of operation of said first and second guide means in the order named, said first and second slot sections extending from respective outer ends towards each other and merging at adjacent ends, said pin being disposed at the outer end of said first slot section in said sitting position, at the adjacent ends of said slot sections in said tilted position and at the outer end of said second slot section in said reclining position.

5'. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A BACK-REST AND SEAT, MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE FROM A SITTING POSITION TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION AND FOR A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A RECLINING POSITION, AND CONTINUOUS CONSTRAINING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR CONSTRAINING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS TO MOVE ALONG A FIRST PATH DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE AND FOR CONSTRAINING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS TO MOVE ALONG A SECOND PATH DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FOR ESTABLISHING THE SEQUENCE OF OPERATION OF SAID CHAIR, SAID CONTINUOUS CONSTRAINING MEANS INCLUDING A DOUBLEARCED SLOT AND A PIN ENGAGED IN SAID SLOT. 